Carbon disulfide is the solvent of choice for eluting adsorption packages prior to analysis by GC/FID. In laboratories which utilize mass selective detectors instead of flame ionization detectors, diethyl ether, a much friendlier solvent, can be used in place of the CS2. No loss of sensitivity occurs, and there is a salutary impact on bench workers' health as well as on the aroma of the fire debris laboratory.